Author: Steven Vance

Chicago Commercial Club and the Metropolis 2020 report

November 8, 2007 / / 0 Comments

The Chicago Metropolis 2020 is a report released in 1999 by the Commercial Club of Chicago that speaks to the strengths and weaknesses of Chicago and the region. There is empirical research involved to create the report and it recommends specific changes that community and political leaders and business executives can take to improve the myriad situations of living for all metropolitan citizens.

In the Executive Summary, one reads about what physical, environmental and social elements constitute the city and its inequalities. Part 4 is the abstract on Land Use and Housing.

In the beginning of this section, one reads about the facts that most Chicagoans already know: public housing is a center of “joblessness, social isolation, and family and community dysfunction…”

One remedy or suggestion for positive change included in this section of the executive summary is one that involves business owners and employers. I’m glad to see that the Commercial Club members did not exclude themselves from solving some of the region’s problems. However, their involvement, as proposed by the report, remains quite weak.

It says that businesses, “in collaboration with local governments, consider these approaches” and “should coordinate” [italics mine] housing programs that are employer supported. That is very weak language and doesn’t exactly commit any business member of the Commercial Club to move forward with programs that will get their employees in housing subsidized by the companies themselves. If anything, local governments should ask the employers for some backup in rare moments.

Nowhere in the land use and housing section of the report’s summary is any responsibility left solely in the hands of business owners and corporations. That’s disappointing.

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Davis retains platinum status as bike capital

November 2, 2007 / / 0 Comments

Davis retains platinum status as bike capital:
If Davis is considered a bike friendly city, then larger cities like New York and Chicago are only biking “acquaintance” cities. The two cities only express mere recognition of biking and bikers in their spaces.

Davis has built tunnels and overpasses to easily cross the highways traversing the town. No road will hinder any Davis cyclist. There are many off-street trails as well as bicycle boulevards: streets designed with cyclists taking first priority. Boulevards have lots of signage and lane markings and have very low speed limits for motor vehicles. Also on the boulevards are concrete islands and neckdowns to block vehicles but allow bikers.

Neckdownsdavis
Neckdowns are landscaped fixtures that jut into the street, narrowing it, which essentially causes motorists to slow down. It’s also a beautifying feature.

Davis also installs at many intersections light signaling for bikes.

In Chicago, we have none of this. I think we can start with Milwaukee Ave. because it’s a popular and well-used thoroughfare for commuters riding to downtown. The lakefront path could also use some work to increase average speed and keep out those users which hinder bikers. A north-south road could be converted to a bicycle highway – a street with no on-street car parking and all intersections (except for a handful) are yields in favor of cyclists.

Followup story to NYC’s protected bike lane on Ninth Avenue

October 10, 2007 / / 0 Comments

Cars and drivers never fail to disappoint bicyclists.

Roadways and their accompanying sidewalks should be built for the least-protected user. In all cases, this happens to be the pedestrian; the walker; the person who decided to give their bike or car or motorcycle the day off.

Major cities are beginning to realize this concept (again!) and are taking away space from cars and giving it to people waiting for the bus, cyclists commuting to work and people who just want to cross the street.

StreetsBlog has done a wonderful job announcing and explaining all of the changes the City of New York is bringing forth.

Lately, it’s this bike lane on Ninth Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood. A week ago, it was the announcement and presentation of design for the remake of Grand Army Plaza. And StreetsBlog has been heavily covering the debate and progress of roadway congestion pricing for lower Manhattan.

ninth avenue bike lane

Already the protected mini bike-highway has been overrun by delivery vehicles.

It’s unknown whether the entrances to the separated bike lane will be guarded by retractable bollards

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Response to “Gentrification” by Tostah4

October 10, 2007 / / 0 Comments

The following was originally posted here by a classmate of mine:

Another place of gentrification is areas North of IIT on State and 18th and further south. I see condos being built up across the streets from public housing buildings, on my way to ROTC on the train. I have a feeling sooner or later, those public housing buildings will be demolished and built over with luxury condos. The residents of the public housing will be forced to live elsewhere.

This is what I wrote as a response to someone who is concerned about public housing in Chicago, but could also act as an extension of the blog post:

To better understand what is happening with public housing across the city and what will happen to the public housing on State St. near IIT, you should read about the CHA’s “Plan For Transformation.”

Obviously, the design and plan for the older, high-rise housing didn’t work out too well: the landscaped plazas, parks, and playgrounds eventually were not cared for. It’s partially a result of the residents not taking ownership of where they live – for a few reasons, one being that they have no monetary investment or stake in the housing itself. It’s not “theirs.”

This kind of housing only served to attract drugs and gangs. The CHA feels that this old method of public housing will be corrected with a somewhat experimental method for public housing that brings in people from other class and income levels in the hopes that, what critics say, “the values of the middle class will rub off on the poor.” But instead, it brings diversity to the neighborhood and diversity is always a good thing.

I’d also like to point out that new condos being built is not the only evidence of gentrification. It’s a major, concrete identification method, and it’s a part of gentrification that happens quickly, but before the developers chose that lot to build a condo, the area was recognized as a place that could support housing ownership by middle-class residents and therefore building a condo here is a good idea and financially feasible for them. The appearance of condos is just one step in the process of gentrification, and in Chicago, at least, happens later in the game but is also the step that finally announces to visitors and residents that, “Hey, this neighborhood is (has been) experiencing gentrification.

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APA and one Illinois neighborhood

October 8, 2007 / / 0 Comments

The American Planning Association, the premier organization for urban planners, just released a list of the Top 10 Great Places in America. It’s a list of which “celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and planning.”

“The designated neighborhoods and streets are defined by several characteristics, including good design, functionality, sustainability, and community involvement.”

Included in the list is one part of Illinois: West Urbana in Urbana.

I didn’t realize Urbana (and Champaign) had definable neighborhoods like I think of when New York, Chicago and San Francisco come to mind. Thankfully, the APA has a description of West Urbana and why it was chosen to be included as one of America’s best neighborhoods.

The American Planning Association has selected West Urbana as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods in America for 2007 in recognition of the neighborhood’s sustainable design; commuters who walk, bike, or ride transit at higher-than-average rates; inviting neighborhood spaces; and community focus on enhancing quality of life.

It also goes on to say how many children walk or bike to school – an activity that has declined greatly since before the 80s. The neighborhood is also very picturesque with large shade trees and narrow streets. Fortunately, to further bike use in the city, Urbana is working on a bike master plan.

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